asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the number of applications received from County Galway under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, to 31st October, 1937; (b) the number of claims considered to above date; and (c) the number of pensions and amounts awarded in the various grades to 31st October, 1937, and the names of the recipients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions (Galway).
I must refer the Deputy to my reply in answer to a somewhat similar question on the 4th March last. Before the number of claims received from any particular county could be given an examination of all applications received would have to be made and this would involve an expenditure of time on the part of the staff dealing with pensions which I do not think would be justified in the present circumstances.
All claims received are in various stages of consideration. So far as the County of Galway is concerned, I am only in a position to give the Deputy the number of claims reported on by the referee, which is 161.
A list of pensioners for the county is being prepared showing the names, grades and amounts awarded to the 31st October last, and this will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
Do I understand that the Minister is not at present in a position to give the number of claims from Galway made under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934? Can he not reply to (b) and give particulars of the claims considered up to 31st October?
I have given that answer.
But you cannot give me the number of claims made.
I could if we searched all the claims that have been put in.
I cannot see why the Minister is not able to give the number of claims from each county. The address of the applicant is given in the county and, so far as I can see, the Minister is evading the issue and declining to give information which should be in his office and the cost of procuring which should not be very much.
I shall give the Deputy any information in reason but I am not going to bring the whole work of the investigation of claims to a standstill in order to answer unreasonable questions.
Is it unreasonable to ask the number of applicants from any particular county or from each county who made applications under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934?
It would take an unreasonable amount of time to answer the question.